Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-05-14
MARRIAGES IN TURKEY.
Peculiar Methods of Matrimony ant
Bridal Customs.

Marriage receives scarcely more attention
among the Turks than birth and death, and
there is but little embarrassment from the
administrative formalities that precede and
accompany this solemn act in the West
There are no bans, no announcements, no
registrations. 4 man obtains a wife lust as
he would buy a bouquet, but neither the
buyer nor the seller, nor the Intern ediary,
asks for receipt. As it is forbidden man
to enter the harem of another (even if he
were near relative of the latter to see
young woman and talk with her, there are
no marriages for love and no engagements.
One father meets another father, and says
to him: " You have son and | have
daughter. 1.-THE mother of your son knows
my daughter, let us strike bargain; if she
does not know her, let them see each
other, and then let Us close up the bust
ness" The conditions are discussed, the
dowry haggled over, then all the arrange
ments between the parents are made, and
the young people introduced to each other.
Let us add in passing, that among us
the marriages that are contracted in the
great capitals of Europe, especially in Paris,
do not depart far from this programme.
In France, however, a man is still allowed
to behold the object for the acquisition of
which negotiations are in progress. In
Turkey this is forbidden there marriage
is a lottery indeed
Turkish girls are promised usually when
they are very young, even at a tender age,
when they are only three or four wears old,
If the young bride should happen to die
before her marriage, or be required for the
Sultan's harem-for it may be promised
that this is a case that breaks all engage
ments, and is esteemed as great honor by
parents-the Intended husband is not ex-
pected to weep over what he loses, for he
has never seen it. When the young girl
reaches her twelfth or thirteenth year or
somewhat later, her fourteenth year. she
receives the nuptial blessing, and the hus-
band cannot see the face of his wife until
after that ceremony.
No woman, not even the wife, takes part
IN the solemnity of marriage, which is eff
iected by proxy, delegated to an uncle or
to an elder brother, often with full beard,
who plays the role of the bride. The par
ents of the couple sign the contract before
the imam of their quarter, in the presence
OF few friends, who act as witnesses.
The nuptials are then celebrated BY the
families with calmness and gravity that
would be as suitable for funeral as for
wedding.
Thesexes never mingle at these festivals.
The men take their pleasure in silence in
their selamlik the women, little more
noisily-it is but natural-In the haremlik.
If the wife is too young or has delicate
health, she is not intrusted to her hus-
band. She is quickly shut up at her
mothers, or at her motber-in-law' some
times for more than year, until it shall
please the latter to reunite her with her
husband. it even happens that the hus-
band has had time to take second wife
before receiving his first.
Il =, 80 Azr IL L
the young wife finds in her new situation,
where she is often obliged to share with
companions, and even with black and
white slaves, the heart and the attentions
of her husband. How often have the poor
creatures exchanged their maiden seclu-
sion, captivity that a mother always
knows how to make pleasant, for another
seclusion more narrow, more severe, often
by the neglect of her husband,
or by the brutality and the bad treatment
of detestable guardian THE CosnopOl-
tan